Mike

Saturday 18 Jan sees the return of the regular soul nites after a bit of a break cause of xmas. No longer at the Risboro , this month see us at Llandudno Bodafon farm park. Which is in the Crag y don area ( opposite the kids pool - hit read more for map) . £3 in, late bar, a large bunch of North Wales djs lined up, bbq food available. A mix of all-styles Northern jacked up, a decent venue and hopefully a right old laugh Hit read more for map and more info LLANDUDNO SOUL NITES JAN 18 Anyone after a lift to bretby or goldbourne after give us a shout Bodafon Farm Park , Craig Y Don , LLANDUDNO 8:00-late £ 3 in, BBQ buffet avail, TOP SOUNDS TOP NITE LLANDUDNO SOULNITES BODAFON FARM PARK PHONE for DETAILS

Not long now till the major event of spring 2003. The "Midnight Hour" Northern and Modern Soul Weekender at Prestatyn North Wales. By all accounts sounds like its going to be even better than last year with more rooms, more djs, more guests and so on. As was said last year for soul fans by soul fans! (you know the score) Check out Midnight Hour Soul Weekender Web Site for info, news, and more Heres the latest news : Latest News Report 16 Jan 03 Bookings already three times the amount at the same time last year! Remember prices start at just £35 which includes full accommodation at the event for three nights and full weekender passes. Please note that at this years event there will be NO WEEKENDER PASSES available or admission on any of the nights to people other than those who have booked a full weekend package. Midnight Hour Website upgraded and updated! Artist Bios, Info, Latest News and booking info Video Clips Soul Sounds and more up soonest! Sign up to newsletter for latest info in your mailbox! Spring sounds like going to be soul pleasure overload again, looking forward to both Llandudno Conniseurs weekender and the above.

:-) The first Rare Soul session of 2003 was a huge success with over 360 in and a great night had by all. Ginger was outstanding, playing an hour and a half of quality across the board sounds, inc a few new things that have gone straight on my wants list, and The Usual Suspects kept up the quality to ensure a full dancefloor right to the 2am close. The Mojo Room was rocking to the sound of RnS and R&B and was a huge hit. The presentation made to me by Ginger (an authentic black pudding and a CD) was well recieved by all in the hall. In short another great night at North herts biggest Rare Soul event, fantastic sounds, atmosphere and crowd. Full set of pictures will be posted later this week. Thanks to all who have supported us over the months....roll on March 7th and Soul Sam!!! TheBigO

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SAT JAN 11th 1.30am-8am 100 CLUB 100 OXFORD ST LONDON W1 NORTHERN SOUL ALLNIGHTER DJs BUTCH MICK SMITH ADY CROASDELL TERRY JONES (RARE ALL-NIGHTER APPEARANCE) ROGER BANKS ITS ALWAYS A GAS DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY ENQUIRIES WWW.6TS.ORG

Just come off the phone with the staff at the Plinston Hall in Letchworth, Herts who tell me we have sold well over half of the 400 allocated tickets for the Jan 10th event tomorrow night. So, to avoid the major headache of the opening night can I advise anyone travelling any distance who has not already done so to please order your ticket from the box office B4 setting off or at the least have them put it to one side for you to pay on arrival. The number is 01462-672003. Ginger and The Usual Suspects look forward to welcoming you to what we expect to be another blinding night of soul, fun and great times!!! See ya 2morrow!!!! TheBigO

Had change of info post for site on event at Lime Street Dunkinfield tonite Thought post it up as may be of interest to those planning their saturday nites entertainment Dunkenfield is in Manchester area "the change is Kev Murphy in place of Phil Dick" Other djs on what sounds like its going to be a good nite Eddie Engles-yorksire riders Dave Hall Resident DJs John Purvis-yorkshire riders Sid Jones More event details in Event Guide above

Description : London clubs are combining forces for an extra special all-nighter, so get yourselves ready for a weekend of quality soul as its The CSC Dome on Friday 31st Jan, followed the very next night by the following x3 room extravanganza: Room 1 x600 capacity Soul room with DJs Ady Croasdell, Butch&Mick Smith (100club) Andy Rix, Dawn&Nick Brown (Scenesville) Irish Greg&Alan H (Capitol Soul Club) Jo Wallace (These Old Shoes) Soulful Chris (Valatone) PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS Ginger Taylor&Roger Banks Room 2 for Boogaloo! Playing R&B, Boogaloo, Dancefloor Jazz, Club Soul&Ska.... The SHOTGUN&MOUSETRAP guys, Gav Evans, Vic Ranger, Rob Bailey PLUS GUESTS Roger Banks, AlanH, Pid, Jazzman Gerald&Irish Greg Room 3 ..The Beat Basement for British Beat, Garage Punk, Psyche, Euro Beat, etc spun by Rob Bailey, Speed, Jack White, PLUS GUESTS Scott Copeland, Ben Ollins, Dr. Specs&Rhys Webb. 10pm-6am The International Students House, 229 Gt. Portland St. Regents Park London £12 otd £10 in Advance. NOTE: CHEAP ACCOMODATION IS AVAILABLE ! SO COULD BE A RIGHT OLD WEEKENDER OF SOUL AND LAUGHS

In an unexpected move the DMSC have actually got their act together and pushed out the dates for the next year. Note some of the nites are now on a Friday nite MARCH 21ST- FRIDAY MAY-23 RD -FRIDAY JUNE-7TH -SATURDAY AUGUST-23RD-SATURDAY NOVEMBER -7TH -FRIDAY as always subject to change, and also please note these are just the basic dates, more details and other dates/events/locs etc are planned !! On behalf of Steve T and all the rest of the DMSC team like to say thanks for all support from all members and all soul heads in the year 2002 and just like to wish everyone All The Best For 2003

Thanks to Dave M, a chance to read a great review of "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" that was posted on Soul Talk Take it away Dave......... I waited nearly a year to see this was it worth the wait........read on........ SITSOM-THE MOVIE Styrene45 and myself have just spent an hour and half in the company of a group of Detroit's finest,(via celluloid mind!), and for those who are unfortunately not in a position to see the movie yet, here is our review. As a devotee of TSOYA for most of my "fully growed up" life, and a musician (bad one at that), that has listened in awe to "The Bros" for more years than I care to remember, this will obviously be a completely unbiased view! The film hits the spot in just about every way. It is obvious that everyone involved has treated it as a labour of love. The music obviously speaks to a new generation of fans and will probably continue to do so long after the disappearance of CDs, DVDs, Laser Discs, Techno music, synthesized music or the latest "en vogue" musical fashion whatever it may be. But the real stars of the movie (and in fact the subject matter), are The Bros themselves. There are a number of hair on neck raising incidents in the film and without spoiling it for the likes of my fellow Amigos, DF, DC, and NB etc, Jack Ashford gelling the guys on an impromptu version of Ain't too proud to beg" was worth the admission fee alone. The criticism of the vocal performances and the question of their relevance has missed the whole point of the magic. To have had Diana, Martha, Levi, Stevie etc heavily involved in performing would have turned the whole thing into a Motown" revival theme and once again placed the Bros back into the Shadows of Motown as opposed to the spotlight which was the intention.To see the likes of Uriel Jones banging the skins next to (The Late) Richard "Pistol"Allen while keeping time with Jack Ashfords tambourine and Joe Messinas guitar I wouldn't have missed for the world.The sight of Joe Hunter attempting the splits in a brilliant impromptu flashback to the "Snakepit days" said it all for me. I felt privileged to own their records. He is indeed a man amongst men! The final stage performance of the movie is a little gut wrenching (I won't spoil it for Alan Pollard), and I now remember why I fell in love with their music in the first place. The vibrancy, the little impromptu licks, the identifiable pick ups, complete control no matter how frantic the pace, and, probably the most important ingredient...the teamwork and enjoyment.If you're a fan of Benny and James, see the movie. The "Heartbeat and breath of TSOYA" is getting on a bit and I for one am extremely grateful to Mr Slutsky and his team for recording moments in time, with the people who created them, that shaped my life before they all shook off this mortal coil. They really did reach down inside you, grab your soul with their immense talent, rip it out, plant a big wet kiss on it and replace it with the force of one of Bennys sticks on the snare drum!! AWESOME. Regards, Dave

Bretby was very busy Great All nighter,briliant atmosphere very frendly soulies, nobody ripping you off what more do you want. ,Thanks again to Sam Moore and Kerry.